1302. MARCO Polo of Cannareggio, see vol. i. pp. 64-67. (The Church
of S. Geremia stands on the canal called Cannareggio.)
Already in 1224, we find a Marco Polo of S. Geremia and Cannareggio.
(See Liber Plegiorum, published with Archivio Veneto, 1872 pp.
32, 36).
1319. (Bianca, widow of GIOVANNI Polo?)[1]
1332. 24th March. Concession, apparently of some privilege in connection
with the State Lake in San Basilio, to DONATO and HERMORAO
(= Hermolaus or Almoro) Paulo (Document partially illegible).[2]
1333. 23rd October. Will of Marchesina Corner, wife of Marino Gradenigo of
S. Apollinare, who chooses for her executors "my mother Dona
Fiordelisa Cornaro, and my uncle (Barba) Ser Marco Polo."[3]
Another extract apparently of the same will mentions "mia cusina
MARIA Polo," and "mio cusin MARCO Polo" three times.[4]
1349. MARINO Polo and Brothers.[5]
1348. About this time died NICOLO Polo of S. Geremia,[6] who seems to have
been a Member of the Great Council.[7] He had a brother MARCO, and
this Marco had a daughter AGNESINA. Nicolo also leaves a sister
BARBARA (a nun), a son GIOVANNINO (apparently illegitimate[7]), of
age in 1351,[6] a nephew GHERARDO, and a niece FILIPPA,[6] Abbess
of Sta. Catarina in Mazzorbo.
The executors of Nicolo are GIOVANNI and DONATO Polo.[6] We have not
their relationship stated.
DONATO must have been the richest Polo we hear of, for in the Estimo
or forced Loan of 1379 for the Genoese War, he is assessed at 23,000
Lire.[8] A history of that war also states that he ("Donado Polo
del Canareggio") presented the Government with 1000 ducats, besides
maintaining in arms himself, his son, and seven others.[9] Under
1388 we find Donato still living, and mention of CATARUZZA, d. of
Donato:[10] and under 1390 of Elena, widow of Donato.[10]
The Testamentary Papers of Nicolo also speak of GIACOMO [or Jacopo]
Polo. He is down in the Estimo of 1379 for 1000 Lire;[11] and
in 1371 an inscription in Cicogna shows him establishing a family
burial-place in Sta. Maria de' Servi:[12]
[M deg.CCC deg.LXXI. Die primo mensis ... S. Dni IACHOBI. PAVLI. DE
CFINIO. SANCTI. IEREMIE. ET. SVOR. HEREDVM.]
(1353. 2nd June. Viriola, widow of ANDREA or Andrinolo Polo of Sta.
Maria Nuova ?)[13]
1379. In addition to those already mentioned we have NICOLO assessed
at 4000 lire.[11]
1381. And apparently this is the NICOLO, son of Almoro
(Hermolaus), who was raised to the Great Council, for public
service rendered, among 30 elected to that honour after the war of
Chioggia.[14] Under 1410 we find ANNA, relict of Nicolo Polo.[15]
1379. In this year also, ALMORO, whether father or brother of the
last, contributes 4000 lire to the Estimo.[11]
1390. CLEMENTE Polo (died before 1397)[15] and his wife MADDALUZIA.[15]
Also in this year PAOLO Polo, son of Nicolo, gave his daughter in
marriage to Giov. Vitturi.[16]
1408 and 1411. CHIARA, daughter of Francesco Balbi, and widow of
ERMOLAO (or Almoro) Polo, called of Sta. Trinita.[15]
1416. GIOVANNI, perhaps the Giovannino mentioned above.[15]
1420. 22nd November. BARTOLO, son of Ser ALMORO and of the Nobil
Donna CHIARA Orio.(?)[17] This couple probably the same as in the
penultimate entry.
1474, seqq. Accounts belonging to the Trust Estate of BARTOLOMEO
Polo of S. Geremia.[15]
There remains to be mentioned a MARCO POLO, member of the Greater Council,
chosen Auditor Sententiarum, 7th March, 1350, and named among the
electors of the Doges Marino Faliero (1354) and Giovanni Gradenigo (1355).
The same person appears to have been sent as Provveditore to Dalmatia in
1355. As yet it is doubtful to what family he belonged, and it is
possible that he may have belonged to our traveller's branch, and have
continued that branch according to the tradition. But I suspect that he is
identical with the Marco, brother of Nicolo Polo of S. Geremia, mentioned
above, under 1348. (See also vol. i. p. 74.) Cappellari states
distinctly that this Marco was the father of the Lady who married Azzo
Trevisan. (See Introd. p. 78.)
We have intimated the probability that he was the Marco mentioned twice in
connection with the Court of Sicily. (See vol. i. p. 79, note.)
A later Marco Polo, in 1537, distinguished himself against the Turks in
command of a ship called the Giustiniana; forcing his way past the
enemy's batteries into the Gulf of Prevesa, and cannonading that fortress.
But he had to retire, being unsupported.
It may be added that a Francesco Paulo appears among the list of those
condemned for participation in the conspiracy of Baiamonte Tiepolo in
1310. (Dandulo in Mur. XII. 410, 490.)
[I note from the MS. of Priuli, Genealogie delle famiglie nobili di
Venesia, kept in the R'o. Archivio di Stato at Venice, some information,
pp. 4376-4378, which permit me to draw up the following Genealogy which
may throw some light on the Polos of San Geremia: -
ANDREA, of San Felice
|
+ - - - - - - -+ - - - - - - -+
| | |
Marco Nicolo Maffio
of S. Grisostomo
buried at S. Lorenzo.
|
+ - - - - - - + - - - - + - -+ - - - - - - +
| | | |
Marco Steffano Giovanni Maffio
(Milioni) |
+ - - - - - -+ - - - - + - + - - - - - -+
| | | |
Almoro of Maffio Marco Nicolo
San Geremia
|
Nicolo of San Geremia
made a Nobleman, 4th Sept. 1381
|
+ - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - +
| | |
Maffio Marco Marin
| |
Marco + 1418
Governor of Castel Vecchio,
at Verona.
Sir Henry Yule writes above (II. p. 507) that Nicolo Polo of S. Geremia
had a brother Marco, and this Marco had a daughter Agnesina. I find in
the Acts of the Notary Brutti, in the Will of Elisabetta Polo, dated 14th
March, 1350: -
BETA = MARCO POLO [MARCOLINO?]
of S. Grisostomo
|
+ - - - - - - - - - + - - - - - - - - -+
| | |
Agnesina Christina Marina
= Nicoleto. = Michaleto in the Monastery
of S. Lorenzo.
The Maffio, son of Nicolo of S. Giov. Grisostomo, and father of Pasqua and
Fiordelisa, married probably after his will (1300) and had his four sons:
Almoro of S. Geremia, Maffio, Marco, Nicolo. Indeed, Cicogna writes
(Insc. Ven. II. p. 390): - "Non apparisce che Maffeo abbia avuto
figliuoli maschi da questo testamento [1300]; ma per altro non e cosa
assurda il credere che posteriormente a questo testamento 1300 possa avere
avuti figliuoli maschi; ed in effetto le Genealogie gliene danno quatro,
cioe Ermolao, Maffio, Marco, Nicolo.
